Reri Grist facts for kids
Reri Grist (born February 29, 1932) is an American opera singer. She is known for her clear, high voice, called a coloratura soprano. Reri Grist was one of the first African-American singers to have a big international career in opera.
Contents
Life and Career Highlights
Early Life and Broadway
Reri Grist was born in New York City. She grew up in the East River Housing Projects. She went to the High School of Music & Art and studied voice. Later, she earned a music degree from Queens College, City University of New York.
When she was a teenager, Reri performed on Broadway. She had small roles with famous actors like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. She was in the play Jeb in 1946. She also sang in musicals with Eartha Kitt. During this time, she took voice lessons with her teacher, Claire Gelda.
First Steps in Opera
Reri's first opera performance was as Madame Herz in a concert. It was for Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor. Her first full stage opera role was in 1956. She played Cindy Lou (Micaela) in Carmen Jones. This was Oscar Hammerstein's version of Bizet's Carmen.
In 1957, she was Consuelo in the first show of Leonard Bernstein's musical West Side Story. She was the first to sing the famous song "Somewhere" to the public. She also sang it on the original cast album.
Breaking into Classical Music
A big moment in classical music for Reri came in 1960. Leonard Bernstein asked her to sing the soprano part in Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4. She performed with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. This was part of a Young People's Concert.
After this, Reri Grist performed with the orchestra many times. She worked with famous conductors like Bernstein, Nadia Boulanger, and Pierre Boulez.
Opera Debuts Around the World
Her first opera performance was at the Santa Fe Opera in 1959. She played Adele in Die Fledermaus. Then she was Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. The famous composer Igor Stravinsky saw her perform. He invited her to sing in his opera Le Rossignol. He conducted the performance himself.
In 1960, Reri first performed in Europe. This was at the Cologne Opera in Germany. She sang the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute. From 1960 to 1966, she was a member of the Zurich Opera in Switzerland. There, she sang many important roles. These included Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, and Gilda in Rigoletto.
After her success in Zurich, many opera houses wanted her. She debuted at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London. She also sang at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1962. In 1963, she first performed at the Vienna State Opera in Austria. She sang there for twenty-five seasons, which is a very long time!
More Major Roles and Venues
In 1963, Reri Grist also sang at the San Francisco Opera for the first time. She played Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Over twelve years there, she added more roles to her list. These included Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Manon in Massenet's Manon, and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro.
In 1964, she had a very successful debut as Zerbinetta at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. She performed there for twelve seasons. She sang in operas by Mozart and R. Strauss. Famous conductors like Karl Böhm and Herbert von Karajan led these performances.
Reri Grist made her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York City on February 25, 1966. She sang Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Over thirteen seasons at the Met, she sang many roles. These included Gilda, Oscar, Olympia, Sophie, and Zerbinetta.
From 1965 to 1987, she often performed at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Germany. She was in new productions like Richard Strauss' Die schweigsame Frau and Falstaff. She also made guest appearances at other famous opera houses. These included La Scala in Milano, Italy, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Later Career and Honors
Reri Grist ended her opera singing career in 1991. Her last performance was in the one-woman opera Neither in Amsterdam. In the same year, she sang "the Italian Singer" in Capriccio by Richard Strauss in San Francisco.
After her singing career, Reri Grist became a professor. She taught voice at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States. She also taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, Germany.
She has received many honors. In 1976, she was given the title of Bayerische Kammersängerin. This is a special honor for opera singers in Bavaria, Germany. In 2001, she received a Legacy Award from the American Opera Association.
Reri Grist lives in Germany with her husband, Dr. Ulf Thomson.
Filmography
- Ariadne auf Naxos (1965), playing Zerbinetta
- Le nozze di Figaro (1966), playing Susanna
- Don Pasquale (1972), playing Norina
- Un ballo in maschera (1975), playing Oscar
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1980), playing Blondchen
- Die schweigsame Frau (1972), playing Aminta
- Reri Grist – Singer, (1976), a film directed by Axel Corti
- Da Capo with August Everding, (1996)
- Tatort, a TV show, (1996)
- Aida's Brothers and Sisters, a film by Marieke Schroeder
- Opera is Theatre/Oper ist Theater, (2002), a film by Marieke Schroeder
See also
In Spanish: Reri Grist para niños
